Page 27 of Born Daddy

“When did you become so knowledgeable about BDSM? Something you want to share?” Mitch jabbed a finger at him over Lenny’s shoulder.

“When did you become so fucking judgmental? And what business would it be of yours if I chose to live that kind of lifestyle? Would you start treating me like I was a sicko? Someone you’ve known for more than half your life? Huh?”

Mitch sneered. “Oh, so you admit it. You’re as big a freak as Cam was.”

Rogan launched himself at Mitch, the smaller Lenny grunting as he struggled to keep them apart. However, Mitch was doing his best to get to Rogan and Lenny let out a strangled yell.

“Stop it! Both of you!”

Lenny growled as he attempted to push them away from each other, his lips pressed tightly together and his face turning scarlet. “Let’s all take a breath! We’re all friends here and we’ve been dealing with a lot of shitty stuff. Let’s not take it out on each other!”

With a whoosh of air, Rogan jumped back, his chest heaving and sweat trickling from his temples as Lenny’s words registered. He shoved his lizard brain into the background where it belonged and sucked in a deep breath. Mitch was bent over, his hands on his knees as he seemingly fought to catch his breath as well. Neither of them were as young as they used to be, and Mitch had given up on any pretense of staying in shape many years ago.

Rogan ran both hands across the top of his head as he held Lenny’s pained gaze. Not that they hadn’t had their disagreements over the years, and even a scuffle or two when they were a lot younger and less controlled, but it had been years since things had become so heated.

Mitch straightened but wouldn’t look his way. He slammed his fists on his hips, seemingly lost in his own ponderings.

“This is bullshit.” Mitch glared at Rogan. “I can’t believe you hung out with him, felt bad for him. What about Mrs. LeBlanc?” He threw one hand in the air. “You just abandoned her and left her to deal with her grief alone while you made sure that little pervert was okay? For all we know, that asshole was the one who got Cam into all that stuff in the first place and totally ruined his life!”

Rogan didn’t feel he needed to explain himself when it came to what he did or didn’t know about Cam’s lifestyle preferences. Even though they’d all been close, with certain topics, Cam had been more forthcoming with him because they’d shared the same orientation, had dealt with issues Lenny and Mitch couldn’t possibly understand. No, Rogan wasn’t an expert at BDSM, and he’d been in the dark about most of that part of Cam’s world, but he’d known a long time before Lenny and Mitch that Cam held an interest in kink. And that had been many, many years before Tate came along.

Rogan caught Lenny’s eyes again, hating how conflicted his other, more mellow, friend was. The temptation to rub Mitch’s face in the fact that he hadn’t been there at all for Mrs. LeBlanc was huge, but he didn’t need to engage in such pettiness. And doing so would only make a perpetually guilty Lenny feel that much worse. The guy had at least tried to come through.

“Clearly, we’re not going to agree on this subject, so I don’t care to continue this argument. As a longtime friend, I’m sorry you feel like you can’t at least consider my viewpoint, but that’s fine.” Rogan shook his head with a huff. “And I’m not putting up with someone who’s supposed to have my back calling me names in my own home.” Rogan regarded Mitch with a steely gaze. “I’m thinking we should hold off on the game for tonight.”

“Aw, man.” Lenny’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t believe this is happening. Mitch does have your back, Rogan. We both do.” Lenny laid a hand on Rogan’s shoulder. “We can agree to disagree. Let’s just drop the subject.”

Rogan hated that Lenny was caught between him and Mitch the way he was, but it wouldn’t be the first time. Lenny was the more easy-going, accepting one of their group, whereas him and Mitch were the hotheads. He wasn’t sure where Cam had been in the equation other than blasé and mysterious. Rogan’s eyes inexplicably burned, the weight of his frazzled emotions descending down on him like a bag of cement.

“I’m sorry for putting you through this, Lenny.” He sucked in a breath then faced Mitch. “And I’m sorry we almost came to blows. But I could use an apology for the name-calling before we sit down and enjoy the game.”

Mitch crossed his arms and snorted. “Whatever.”

Rogan clenched his fists, holding them to his sides as he worked to steady his breathing. Lenny’s pained expression returned.

“Come on, man. Apologize.”

Mitch pursed his lips at Lenny, pinching his eyebrows together. “You know what? Screw you. I’m not apologizing when he’s the one who’s wrong. And if you can’t see that, then you’re just as bad as him.”

Lenny’s jaw dropped and he looked back and forth between Rogan and Mitch. “What did I do?”

“That was uncalled for, Mitch,” Rogan growled.

“Like I said, whatever.” Mitch shook his head with a grunt. “I’m outta here.”

Mitch slammed the door behind him after stomping out, the framed photos of Rogan’s family by the front door rattling against the wall in the aftermath.

“Wow.” Lenny rubbed his palms across his slicked-back dark hair several times. “I can’t believe that just happened.” He glanced up at Rogan with puppy dog eyes. “Do you want me to leave too?”

“No, of course not.” He let out a sigh and attempted as much of a smile as he could manage. “None of this was your fault.” He gestured to the sofa. “Go on, have a seat. I’ll grab you a fresh beer and get out the cold cuts.”

“You sure?” Lenny’s eyebrows arched, a hopeful expression radiating from his features.

“Yeah, totally.” Rogan gave a one-shouldered shrug as if it was no big deal, as if his stomach wasn’t tied in so many knots it would take him the rest of the night and maybe into the next day to untie them. “Come on, the game’s about to begin. Want to turn on the TV while I grab the stuff from the kitchen?”

Lenny’s mouth stretched into a wide grin. “Sure, no problem.”

Rogan went about the task of getting their refreshments, his mind racing as the events of the past several minutes ran on repeat in his brain. His first instinct, once Mitch had stormed out, was to ask Lenny to leave so he could be alone with his thoughts. But Mitch had a wife to go home to and Lenny had been divorced for years, never dating again because he still loved his high school sweetheart—even though she’d left him for her boss.

Lenny. Always the nice guy, always the one trying to fix everything and make everyone feel better. Somehow, that train of thought brought him around to Tate. Another nice guy, taking the shit everyone had laid on him and trying to make the best of it.

Rogan had already decided he’d be there as a friend to Tate, that he’d support him however he could. But after Mitch’s outburst? He was fucking committed.

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